Villar proposes a Sports Congress to prepare RP for 2008 Olympics

Senate President Manny Villar today proposed for the immediate holding of a tripartite sports congress of respected figures in Philippine sports, the private sector and the government to map out preparations and strategies for the Philippine participation in the Beijing Olympics.

"Considering the lackluster performance of the country in the recently-concluded Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, a meeting of the minds is called for in order to improve our medal haul in the 2008 Olympics and to formulate a comprehensive sports program in the long run," Villar said.

Villar filed Senate Proposed Resolution No. 257 urging the immediate holding of a sports congress to be participated in by athletes and sports officials, the private sector and the government.

Villar lamented that Team Philippines placed sixth in the eleven-nation regional sports competition held in Thailand. He added that since the SEA Games debut in 1977, the nation's performance can be summed up as follows: second in 1983 and 1991; third place in 1981, 1985, 1987, 1993 and 1995; fourth and fifth places four and five times respectively in the other years of competition.

"The decaying state of Philippine sports can be remedied by a collective effort, not by finger-pointing. We must get our act together to address problems plaguing the sports sector such as the lack of training facilities, disunity among stakeholders, lack of necessary recruitment program, the absence of a continuous incentives program and even the allegation of politics and corruption in this sector," Villar said.

The Nacionalista Party President said an immediate action is called for in order to save Philippine sports from further deterioration and make the 2008 Olympics a starting point.

"We must come fully prepared for the Beijing Olympics. Given ample support and motivation, I believe in the Filipino mind and muscle that could end our long-standing quest for the elusive Olympic gold medal and signal a new era of Philippine sports," Villar said.

As an indication of world-class athleticism of Filipino sportsmen and women, the Senate president cited the achievement of Miguel Molina, whose magnanimous victory of four gold medals in swimming earned him the Most Valuable Player of the Games title.